Freedom of Information Act Reveals Britain's Top Speeders

So todays news has reveled that a motorist was caught driving at 149mph by a speed camera on the M25 in Swanley, Kent. this is actually probably old news as there has been no date put on the conviction and the information was released via the use of "the freedom of information act" 39 Police authorities in England and wales were asked by IAM the location and speed of the fastest motorists caught in the past year. 33 responded. In general from reading the information it appears that the amount of speeding morotists is rising rapidly and attempts to make it as socially unacceptable as drink driving are failing miserably, again looking at the facts possibly because the penalties arent as harsh as they are for drink driving

Highest speeds recorded by speed cameras in England and Wales

Speed limit (mph)	Highest speed recorded (mph)	Difference (mph)	Location
70	149	79	M25 Swanley
60	127	67	A413 Wendover By-Pass, Wendover
50	119	69	A414 Stanstead Abbotts
40	113	73	A17 Station Rd, Swineshead Bridge
30	96	66

Kent Police said 66,357 people had been handed speeding notices in 2013, compared to 34,438 in 2010. (Response to a separate Freedom of Information request by BBC Radio Kent)

Sources BBC News and IAM

In Case You Missed It

last week Ex-minister Chris Huhne was ordered to pay £77,750 in legal costs

The costs were relating to his prosecution for passing speeding points on to Vicky Pryce his ex-wife (she herself was ordered to pay £49,200) for her part in the crime. It seems to me that this is a very clear message from the government that you are always better just taking the points! Remembering that both parties got jail time as well. To read this story please visit our news page http://www.radar-detectors.co.uk/page/speeding-news#chrishuhne Tags: #chrishuhne #speeding #fined #points #drivinglicence #vivkypryce

Eric Craggs Cleared of using LaserStar Laser Jammer

So on the 15th during this week Eric Craggs was cleared of using a LaserStar Laser Jammer.  Laser jammers have long been seen as a bit of a grey area of the law by those in the know as there has never been a successful prosecution of anyone using one as was the case this week.

They are legal to sell in the UK although possibly not in some other countries.

The product in question the "LaserStar" (not clear weather he was using the pro or elite version) works as both a jammer and a parking sensor.

To read the full news story about Eric Crags and the Laser Jammer  click here

Why Were You Driving So Fast?

Further to my post on +www.Radar-Detectors.co.uk today which was about  - How to answer the question "Why were you driving so fast?"  The source can be found here on undiscover.

The reply that they had as number one was "My partners having a baby" I am sure that the police must hear this one a lot from males that do try to talk their way out of a ticket, it makes me wonder if they have ever called anyones bluff on it by escorting them to the hospital.

All being fair and equal they have also added "My Domestic Partner is having a baby"  as an option for lesbians (or those that can pass as lesbians!)

This one also caught my eye  "I Didn’t Know How Fast I Was Driving Because My Speedometer Is Broken" and it says if you don't know how to disconnect it then get a mechanic friend to do it for you (obviously this article is jokey and this should not be done). Having read this I am in fact wondering if there is a law that says that your speedo has to be working.  Only im sure there is a law to say that your windscreen washer has to have screen wash in it, and this point about having a working speedo would seem to be more important!

Anyway after a quick google the Tames valley Police website provided me with the answer that you might be subject to a fine unless the fault had just occurred (not sure how you would prove this) possibly they make a note if they catch you once and then if you getcaught again for speeding with that excuse then you would get a fine?

Would love t hear your thoughts on the matter or any excuses you have used weather they were true or not is a different story...